Musings on the Emma Thompson / Exeter University 'racism' story

We’ve been musing on the Emma Thompson / Exeter University ‘racism’ story this afternoon – hence the headline above. Would you like to read some of our thoughts? Of course you would.

First up, Thompson was at an event she organised to discuss racism. Of course she was going to comment on Exeter University and the city itself. That was kind of the point.

Tindy apparently described two incidents when he was the victim of racist abuse – the first by a bunch of ‘nerds’ with nothing else to do and the second by ‘three or four tattooed and macho-looking bouncers at a club’.

Is Ben Bradshaw disputing these events when he says Thompson’s ‘comments about Exeter, racism and the BNP’ are ‘untrue’?

If you go back to the original Daily Mail ’story’, it admits:

‘The university was at pains to point out that Miss Thompson wasn’t saying Nick Griffin would be happy at Exeter University.

‘A spokesman said: “She did say he might feel more comfortable in the South West of England because it is not as ethnically diverse as London.

‘Thompson spoke in very positive terms about the university’s efforts to encourage equality and diversity”.’

But now, apparently, Jonnie Beddall, president of the University of Exeter Politics Society, has launched a campaign to make Thompson apologise. So which is it?

None of this sounds particularly scandalous to us, but The Mail also managed to dig up a couple of aghast ‘Exeter residents’, who presumably weren’t even at the event.

Stephanie Johns is quoted as saying: ‘This is a classic case of reverse prejudice.’ (Ah, another one of those ‘classic cases of reverse prejudice’.)

John Miles (was ‘John’ the only name the Mail could think of?) said: ‘It’s very noble of her to adopt an African child but that doesn’t give her the right to tar us with the Nick Griffin brush.’ How magnanimous of him.

Perhaps Johns and John might like to get in contact with the PRSD and elaborate on their comments?

The WMN picked up the story and skewed things even further. Their article said:

‘Ms Thompson, 50, said the BNP leader would “love” Exeter University because there was so much “depressing” racism there’.

The actual Thompson quote was: “This is how we’re doing it [by talking about it]. It’s depressing when people think nothing is being done about it [racism]. Tindy had his experience and now we’re having a big week of educational events to try and help it.”

Thompson may not be eloquent but she certainly does not say ‘there’s too much depressing racism’ at Exeter Uni.

And talking of the WMN, do we really want to be taking racism advice from a paper which boasts annual coverage of Padstow’s Darkie Day? The answer is, of course, no. We don’t.

But wait, perhaps we’re jumping the gun and making unfair assumptions about the WMN. Maybe their famously dilligent readers picked up on the inconsistencies. What kind of comments did the story attract on their website?

‘Who gave anyone the right to change the makeup of my country? I was never asked about it. I do not apologise for slavery or forgive the treason that makes our land a mongrelised hell hole.’

‘Leon Trotsky coined the term “RACIST”. An insult to close down any debate. His disciples still use the same way.’

‘My comment about a beggar with a sign “Please help me. I am blind and I may be black” was deleted.’

‘I should like to send an invitation to Mr Griffin to come & enjoy the County Town of Devon – any damn time he pleases!’

Oh.

Youse lot will probably want to have a dig around and come up with some inconsistencies of your own… Comments below, please!